Council to consider backyard chicken proposal

Yard sale time limits also on agenda

Several proposed changes to Petoskey city ordinances will get consideration from city council members on Monday, Jan. 17.

A regular council meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. Monday at city hall, 101 E. Lake St.

One of the proposals would allow for chickens to be kept, with restrictions, in single-family residential areas. Another would limit how frequently yard and garage sales could take place at residences and churches, while a third set of changes would allow city staff to approve various types of signs administratively rather than having a sign committee conduct the review process.

The council cannot enact such ordinance changes at the meeting when they are introduced, so a final decision would occur at a later date.

Farming for Our Future, a local education organization focused on farming and gardening, has sought the ability to make chicken coops available for rental through local schools, and the proposed zoning updates pertaining to chickens would allow for this.

The proposed zoning language would allow up to four hens per property parcel in single-family residential areas. Roosters could not be kept, nor would people be permitted to slaughter any chickens outdoors.

A covered enclosure would need to be provided for chickens, with the birds required to be kept in the covered enclosure or a fenced backyard area at all times. Chicken feed and other items that potentially could be attractive to rats, mice or other rodents would need to be protected against contact by those animals.

Another update proposed for the zoning rules concerns sales of personal items from private residences or churches, such as garage or yard sales. A time limit of three days in any 90-day period would be established for such sales, allowing these events take place four times a year.

City staff have noted that there have been several situations locally in which "perpetual" sales occur, presenting disruptions in residential neighborhoods.

Regarding the changes proposed for the sign ordinance, staff have noted that the switch to staff review for some sign permits would provide a streamlined permitting process for applicants while still allowing for oversight by the sign committee.

The committee would continue to review signs involving special conditions. If an applicant wishes to appeal a staff's sign-review decision, the planning commission could consider the appeal.